Village Christian boys basketball team wins Burbank tournament title

Just imagine what the Village Christian boys basketball team will be like when Bryan Alberts and Razhaun “Bear” Henderson start playing.

Without the Gonzaga-bound Alberts and Alemany transfer Henderson (30-day sit-out period), Village Christian hasn’t missed a beat and stayed undefeated Friday with a 70-45 victory against Agoura in the championship of the Burbank tournament.

One of the main reasons the Crusaders are clicking on all cylinders is the play and emergence of Alemany transfer Bennie Boatwright.

All the 6-foot-8 junior with more than 20 scholarship offers did was score 30 points, including four 3-pointers.

“I am just trying to evolve my game,” Boatwright said. “I am trying to be more aggressive and be everywhere. I need to be a threat on the court all the time.”

Village Christian, which won the tournament for the second year in a row, built a 24-7 lead and was never challenged by an outmanned Chargers team.

“It’s early in the season but this group has a high ceiling,” Village Christian coach Jon Shaw said. “Bennie was awesome tonight. He has improved his game in the last 90 days by leaps and bounds.”

Agoura was led by Jarrod Feinstein’s 18 points.

Village Christian is on a mission after losing in the Division V-AA semifinals the past two years.

Although the Crusaders won a state title in 2012, a Southern Section championship is the first goal.

“That’s what we want to do,” Boatwright said. “We all came together to win.”

Things will be a little tougher for Village Christian, which was moved into Division IV-A with Windward, Cantwell Sacred-Heart, Price, Sierra Canyon, Campbell Hall, Brentwood and several other heavyweights.

The only thing Village Christian is hoping for is to get better, and that should happen with Alberts close to returning and Henderson eligible Jan. 6.